Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-04-15
ANNIE'S ROOM.
BY VINCENT BELL.

came running down the street, painting
and red OF face. John Dart, standing
ON the steps talking with two stran-
gers, smiled as she came up, and said,
in slightly surprised tones:
'Iou are late this morning, Miss
Velga-somethingn known"
ayes, sir. lam very sorry, but I
oversight myself"
"up late last night-had beau, per-
haps?" suggested John, roguishly.
"No, STRIP reto1 ted Annie, promptly,
and rather snappishly for, even though
he was the nephew of William Dart,
and the prospective heir to all his
wealth, she considered he was taking
a. liberty. especially before strangers.
Perhaps pretty and prim little Miss
Annie had some other reason, too, for
resenting his remark.
pretty girl" said one of the stran-
gers after she had passed.
Eyes, assented John, F'and about
the neatest, quickest girl ever in the
workroom," and then thestranger be-
gan talking again very earnestly as be-
fore Annie came up the steps.
'Well," said John, "of course you
may satisfy yourself, but can tell
you beforehand there is not one of
our girls whom we do not trust. It
will take you about all day, for they
live in all directions from here, if you
have to search their rooms. AS uncle
says must 60 with you in that case,
the sooner it is over the better for me.''
Then they all three went up stairs to
the girls workroom.
"Will those who stopped at Dingus's
jewelry store last night on the way
home from work please stand up?"
said John. Over half of them stood
up, while John took down their names
and the number Of their rooms, and
the detectives watched each face keen
ly. So far no one was disturbed by g.
guilty conscience. After ascertaining
beyond doubt that all who had been
in the store reported, John an
nounced:
ave have received word that g. val.
liable amount Of jewelry was stolen
from this firm last night at about the
hour you were there, therefore suspi-
cion has fallen upon you, and each girl
must allow her room to be searched
if the goods are not previously found
upon her person"
So the search began A quiet, trusty
girl, much older than the others, and
who had not been with them theev
ing before, was appointed to conduct
the personal investigation in another
room. One after another left the
room to return in a few minutes de-
clared innocent, until the officers were
satisfied none Of the goods were at
the factory.
"Now," said John, when the last
girl had returned, "Will each one OF
you give me your key in turn, for I
must accompany this officer in his
search while the other remains here"
t'Not this morning2" spoke up An
ME Velga, quickly, while the smart de-
tective felt the jewels in his grasp, so
to speak, and the reward in his peck
cts John looked surprised-some
said he turned trif1e pale as he look
ed into Annie's flushed, guilty face;
Eyes, of course, this morning" he
! tbA6 WcEcu SIktttAys w Qt4U ulu6rGLcE
is it, Miss Annie?''
"None," answered Annie, hastily;
but as John took her key, the detect
i've thinking it best to search her room
at once, instead Of in her turn, she
burst out crying and seemed so broken
down the remaining officer felt justified
in placing her under arrest.
John had visited Annie's room be-
fore, just once, not many evenings be-
fore. He had taken her a book to
read and small basket of fruit, think.
ing that as neat way to bsgin his
courtship as any. He had thought,
as he left that evening,it was the pref
TEST, brightest little room ne had ever
seen, Ear exceeding any in his
uncle's grand mansion. He had little
thought the next time he climbed the
stairs to room No. 80 would be upon
such o painful GRAND. He could not
believe sweet little Annie guilty until
it was proven, yet he climbed the steps
unwillingly, and with more unwilling
fingers turned in the lock. the key
Annie had surrendered. When the
door was open he stood for moment
irresolute. The room seemed the
same, yetnot thesame either Where,
the evening he had called, pretty
Japanese screen had stood, was now
q rather shabby though scrupulousiy
clean little stove, and thereon
q j. skillet with I q few pota~
toes left from the mornings
meal; and +: q dainty bed, with
covers thrown back and pillows airing,
was drawn out where had stood a
| small book cabinet he had particular.
lly noticed John treasured himself he
was in ths right door by several little
i articles on the wall, and while the bu-
tsy detective was diving around in
Armies one trunk and the bureau
i drawers.lo king for the lost treasure
John was looking around at this lit
tie jewel Of 8 room, q fairy paradise
lit seemed to him. Across the foot OF
the he'd was thrown dainty night
4 dress, to be sure, made Of cheap mus
lin and trimmed in crochet lace,
but John did not know the
/ difference between it and one Of linen
q trimmed ii finest thread. Two
small slippers were set precisely under
the bed, and over stool by their side
was q pair Of red stockings, turned in
4 side out as though to air. Indeed,
am telling the truth when tell it, that
while the detective's back was turned,
searching Annie's small dish cupboard
John quickly stuffed that pair Of rcd